ALAJUELA – Liga Deportiva Alajuelense are champions of the 2023 Concacaf Central American Cup after playing to a 1-1 draw with Real Esteli in the second leg of the Final on Tuesday night at the Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto in Alajuela, Costa Rica.
The results earned Alajuelense a 4-1 victory on aggregate and confirms the Tico club a place in the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16.
Alajuelense wasted no time in breaking the deadlock and inside the first five minutes they held a 1-0 lead when a corner kick was flicked on and Joel Campbell was there at the far post to slam it into net.
Real Esteli looked to pull a goal back and swing the momentum in their favor. The started to gain more of foothold in the match midway through the half and after a Byron Bonilla shot that missed wide in the 26’, Marlon Lopez cranked a shot from distance that slammed off the crossbar in the 31’.
Juan Barrera then almost got the visitors a goal in the 38’ with a header that appeared goal-bound, only for Alajuelense GK Leonel Moreira to make the reaction save.
Real Esteli’s positive energy carried into the second half and just one minute after the re-start, the score was level at 1-1 when a deflected shot was fired into goal by Byron Bonilla.
The visitors from Nicaragua were brimming with belief and if it wasn’t for another big save from Moreira in the 53’ followed by a Harold Medina miss in the 67’, Real Esteli would have held the lead.
Alajuelense would make the necessary adjustments to restore control and saw things out the rest of the way to nail down the result and emblazon themselves as champions of the inaugural Central American Cup.
